Linden restaurant owner catches suspected car burglar

LINDEN -- The owner of Meson Tropical restaurant on East Elizabeth Avenue found a man breaking into his Jeep Cherokee Wednesday night and held the man until police arrived, police said.

The jeep was parked behind the restaurant when the owner allegedly found the man leaning into the car at around 9:30 p.m. Police said that when the owner questioned the man he tried to run, but the restaurant owner pinned him against a wall and asked a neighbor to call 911.

Hicham Elaroussi, 38, of Linden, was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary, according to Detective Lt. James Sarnicki of the Linden police.

Police said an investigation showed that Elaroussi had in his possession a key to a pair of handcuffs that was in the Jeep.

Elaroussi’s bail is set at $15,000, and he was in Union County Jail today with a court date of March 24.